Technically this series takes place some time after Chapter 7 in What Happens After but it isn't required reading. Essentially I just wanted to write domestic fluff set while Elden and Dorian are living in Kirkwall. They actually get to see what it's like to live together with nothing to hide. With Dorian still set to become a Magister who knows if they'll ever get something like this again.
Elden caught sight of Dorian as he sat on the stairs leading out of the kitchen into their little garden. He was intently reading a book and Elden couldn't help but stop and stare, struck by how the sunlight played across his features. Elden could still hardly believe the two of them had ended up here together like this, but he would thank the Maker every day for it. He loved this man so much and the longer he spent with him the more he discovered to love about him. Dorian was brave and intelligent and attractive and just...wonderful. He was far more than Elden would ever deserve, but for the rest of his life, he would make sure Dorian knew just how much he cared.
He went to sit next to Dorian and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "I love you," he whispered.
Dorian responded with a smile and an appreciative "Mm," but didn't look up from his book.
Elden kissed a trail across his jaw to the corner of Dorian's lips until he finally lowered the book and turned to kiss him properly. They were both grinning into the kiss and suddenly Dorian pushed him down onto the floor, leaning over him to capture his lips again before kissing down his jaw. Elden chuckled and ran his fingers soothingly through Dorian's hair, marveling at just how perfect everything was.
"It's so strange," he said blissfully.
"What is, amatus?" Dorian asked as he trailed kisses down Elden's neck and Elden raised his chin to give him better access.
"I used to dream about this."
"You used to dream about lying on a kitchen floor with me over you?" Dorian asked, grinning mischievously.
Elden laughed. "Well, yes, but I mean all of this. We have a home here and we're together. We don't have to be anyone but ourselves. I never thought we'd ever have something this simple."
"Nothing is ever simple," Dorian said a bit more seriously as he pulled away to look down at him.
Elden moved his hand to Dorian's chest, feeling his heart beating steadily against his palm and feeling so content from just this simple touch."You're here, lying over me as you pointed out, and we have a place of our own. That's enough for now. Even if we get bored and decide to leave in a month or a year, this will always mean so much to me."
"Are you really going to get bored of this?" Dorian said, leaning down to kiss him again and whispering into his ear, "I must be losing my touch."
"No no," Elden laughed which probably wasn't the response Dorian was going for, but he was just so happy. And besides, Dorian's mustache tickled. "Not this, never this. Maybe Kirkwall though. Eventually the repairs will be complete and while there is always a need for architects I very much doubt the current ones would appreciate me taking their jobs. Besides, there's no library and while we're practically living in one now I imagine eventually you'll want even more books and I'd rather not risk being crushed by a precarious stack."
"My, how fickle you think I am," Dorian said, but he was smiling, kissing across Elden's neck again.
Neither of them were really cut out for such a quiet domestic life, and there was nothing wrong with that. The scholar in Dorian would rebel at the lack of magic in this city and there wasn't nearly enough political intrigue. And of course there was still Tevinter to worry about. As for himself, it was possible that once Elden would have been content with all of this, but the Inquisition had shown him what he was capable of. Even without the title he had a responsibility to use his abilities as well as whatever reputation he had left to do as much good as possible. And of course there was still Solas.
He took Dorian's hand in his and raised it to his lips. "It's okay for things to change. As long as we have this," he said, squeezing Dorian's hand gently. "Wherever we are will be enough. All this is nice, but it doesn't really matter. You're my home."
"Fasta vaas," Dorian said, laughing and blushing slightly as he collapsed onto Elden's chest, hiding his face under Elden's chin. "You really are much too sentimental. Now stop sidetracking me. You were the one who interrupted my reading after all. If I had known you'd get so disgustingly sweet I never would have put down my book."
"Liar. But actually, would you mind if we moved this somewhere else? The floor isn't actually all that comfortable."
"What? Is this the same man who called a rocky beach on the Storm Coast 'adequate'?"
"What can I say," Elden said with a laugh. "It's finally happened. I've become a soft noble like you. This is what happens when I share a bed with you and all of your pillows for so long."
"I sleep with just the right amount of pillows, thank you very much. It isn't my fault you southern barbarians haven't heard of proper comfort." With a sigh, Dorian sat up a bit and looked down at him. There was such fondness in his eyes that Elden could feel himself turning red. "I suppose, as long as we're over sharing— you know it's the same for me as well, right?" Elden looked up at him expectantly; resisting the urge to ask of this was about the pillows. He knew it wasn't. "You're my home too," Dorian finally admitted.
"I think I'm rubbing off on you," Elden replied with a grin, feeling like it was impossible to be happier. He pulled Dorian down into a kiss before he could groan in embarrassment.